Group Strategies for Coping With Anxiety and Depression in Adolescence

Adolescence is marked by the transition from childhood to adulthood, during which physical and psychosocial changes occur, exposing this population to vulnerability, intensifying feelings such as insecurity, loneliness, and anguish. Under these circumstances, this research aimed to investigate the mental health of adolescents from a Social Education Center for Work in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, focusing on symptoms of anxiety and depression through a psychosocial intervention designed to promote relaxation, emotional expression, and anxiety-management techniques. This qualitative study was conducted through interactive group activities, and data collection occurred in two phases: (1) The use of an anonymous digital tool to generate data and (2) a facilitated discussion circle with the adolescents. The analysis of verbal and textual data followed the principles of thematic analysis, allowing the identification of patterns across participants’ responses. A total of 169 adolescents, aged 15-17 years, participated and when asked “What causes you stress?”, “lies” emerged as the most frequently mentioned source of stress, reflecting mistrust toward adults. Such perceptions suggest a collective sense of helplessness, in which repeated failures in obtaining emotional support lead individuals to believe that efforts are futile within their environment: these experiences are shaping young people who distrust adults and expect little emotional support, tending to suffer in silence. However, participants’ engagement in the activities demonstrated the transformative potential of supportive environments, as many expressed relief upon recognizing shared emotional experiences among peers. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychoeducational practices into educational and vocational programs for adolescents.